No more excuses - sort out the Health Service NOW!

Without medical insurance you could die on the street in America. In Ireland (at least for the moment) you'll make it as far as a chair in the Emergency Department (..but don't visit the toilet or you forfeit even that).

You're benefiting from an economic boom the foundations of which were laid by those same people dying on hospital trolleys today - and, just like the rest of us, when they were young, fit and healthy they never thought for a moment they'd find themselves in that desperate position.

I'm writing this because it's time you did something to afford them the dignity they (and in future someone in your own family) deserve. This Saturday (29 March) at 15.00 is your opportunity to show politicians that the Irish public have had enough smoke-and-mirrors.

If you're lacking inspiration watch SICKO on dvd before Saturday. The documentary looks at an American health system which has been allowed run-down to the extent that those citizens [who can afford the annual premiums] are driven to private medical cover for fear of not being treated. Hardly a coincidence since the medical insurance industry fiercely lobbies Governments to have (their) acts written into law.

If you're selfishly thinking 'I've got medical insurance' you'd do well to wake up to the story of husband and wife (once financially independent WITH medical insurance) who lost everything including their home when insurance failed to cover all the bills.

The scandal is that these companies employ teams of investigators to fine-comb your original application intent on establishing you had a pre-disposition all those years - their goal is to avoid successful claims which they term 'profit losses'. The documentary hears evidence from ex-Chief Medical Officers admitting they were paid huge bonuses to reach pre-determined 'rejected-claims' targets (rejections which baffle their doctor who recommended a particular treatment).

So how is this relevant to Ireland? Welcome to your future! This government clearly has no interest in a system that works - the ratio of hospital beds per capital has dropped from just over 5/1000 to 3.1/1000 now! I'd argue that the quality of our health service is intentionally being allowed run-down - it's a win-win for both Government and the medical insurance industry - society looses faith in the public system and flocks to private insurance.

Our Government is clearly reaching for the American model (remember all the talk at the last election about private hospitals?) instead of looking to Canada, the UK, France where society (both strong and weak) is supported by an efficient, subsidised, or socialised medical service.

Why? Well conveniently enough our government benefits directly. VHI HEALTHCARE is the profit-making state-operated insurance company and the government has written the so-called 'equalisation' rule into law, simply put this gives the company an unfair advantage making it next to impossible for competition to survive longer than a few years - remember British health insurance giant BUPA.

It's no secret VHI Healthcare has been flirting with the American health insurance giants for some time: and you don't need to stretch too far to imagine the sales-pitch '..the health system lays in tatters, this has pushed droves of citizens to private insurance, we control the company that insures them, 'equalisation' guarantees only VHI can run the distances, we've sewn it all up so your only realistic route into the Irish market-place is a take-over of our company ..we've put together a neat package with a big surge in policy holders, you can only do business with us'. [Has anyone explored the relationship between the deterioration in our health service and a big jump in VHI's membership?]

..and if you're thinking this government would never screw its own citizens remember the privatisation of EIRCOM!

How can Cuba provide a world-class health service despite having suffered under embargoes from both the US and EU while we have experienced an unprecedented boom and our health system lays in tatters.

There is simply no will - in fact the opposite is the case.

Trade unions and medical organisations are crying out for your support this weekend. Have a look at medmedia.com or here ..and take an hour of your day to join the public demonstration:

Sat 29 March
15.00
Garden of Remembrance
Parnell Square
Dublin 01